Costa Rican president investigated for 'influence peddling' in child custody dispute

A prosecutor in Costa Rica on Tuesday opened a case against the country’s president and other government officials after a banker and media owner filed a legal complaint against them for “influence peddling.”

Last month, businessman Leonel Baruch, owner of the news site CR Hoy, filed a complaint accusing Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves of interfering in his child custody dispute after his divorce. 

"There is no other alternative than the legal actions taken today against the president of the republic and other participants in such actions," said the businessman’s lawyer in a statement.

The allegations were made after the former head of Costa Rica’s child welfare agency, Gloriana Lopez Fuscaldo, claimed she received a phone call from Chaves’ chief of staff, in which he asked her to “rule well” the custody of the case, reported The Associated Press. 

Lopez Fuscaldo has since fled to Panama, claiming she fears for her safety. 

The Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that it had opened the investigation into Chavez “as a result of the complaint filed by Mr. Baruch.”

Other figures also being investigated include Minister of Communication Jorge Rodriguez, presidential advisor Gabriel Vargas, and Barush’s ex-wife, Yafit Ohana. 

Chaves has called reporters from CR Hoy, a site critical of his administration, “political assassins.” His administration also tried to accuse one of Baruch's companies of tax evasion.  

The Attorney General’s office said the case was in the preliminary “private stage” and declined to comment further on it. 

The presidential office did not respond to a request for comment. 

So far, 18 legal complaints have been filed against Chaves’ administration, since he assumed power in May 2022.

Earlier this month, the country’s top prosecutor also opened an investigation after the president was accused of abusing his powers for traveling to his wife’s home country of Latvia after an official trip to Belgium.

Peddling carries a two to five-year prison sentence under the Costa Rican anti-corruption laws. Penalties can be increased by one-third for public officials.